Opportunities
Current Opportunities
Opportunities at the SBMA for artists include a regular rotation of juried exhibitions. For further details and to submit material, see southbendart.submittable.com/submit
1. The SBMA’s Midwest Regional Biennial exhibition (Deadline 4.4.25), which occurs in odd years, (2025, 2027, etc.).
2. Around the Bend is a local juried exhibition that occurs in even years. Please check the SBMA website for other calls for entry and exhibition opportunities.
3. High School Residency (Deadline 5.9.25), Undergraduate Residency (Deadline 5.9.25), Ekphrastic Event (Deadline 3.17.25), and Festival of Banners – 2025 (Deadline 5.12.25)
General Submissions
The South Bend Museum of Art accepts submission materials from artists, art organizations, community organizations, and curators. All submissions are now made through our Submittable page: southbendart.submittable.com/submit
Submissions are reviewed by the museum’s Curatorial Staff quarterly in March, July, September, and January and are considered for all available opportunities.
- Up to 20 images and/or up to 3 video links;
- Artist Statement and Bio (no more than 500 words) -or- a Community Arts Organization mission statement and submitter bio (no more than 500 words);
- A Mission Connection statement that describes how your exhibition idea relates to our mission, including any programming activities that might include our Collections, Exhibitions, and Education Departments at SBMA. You’ll also be asked how your exhibition idea engages the diverse communities of South Bend and the surrounding region.
- Art League Gallery (approximately 1200 sq. ft.): Solo, two-person, and small group exhibitions. 3–4 open slots per year.
- Project Room Gallery (approximately 110 sq. ft.) Solo or small group exhibitions of screen-based work. This small gallery space adjoins the Art League Gallery and is dedicated to new media, animations, video, etc., that can be played on a single screen. Equipment includes: Samsung 55″ 1080p flatscreen smart tv, Micca Spec G2 media player, Mac mini. 3–4 open slots per year.
- Community Gallery (approximately 600 sq. ft.). 2 open slots per year for area community art organizations.
- The Art League Gallery (includes entrance into small rectilinear Project Room Space).
If you have issues with Submittable or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Talk to us!
We love artists and would love to hear from you if you have any questions, comments and/or ideas!
Community Gallery Group Exhibition Proposals
All artwork coming into the South Bend Museum of Art will be chosen by a jury process or curatorial selection. Any exception to this must be approved by Curatorial Staff. In no case will any entrant to any exhibition be guaranteed acceptance of one or more pieces.
All juried shows will have a juror who is a non-member and non-affiliated of the exhibiting group. In the case that a local organization is part of a national affiliate, a national member may be a juror. The South Bend Museum of Art reserves the right to have final approval of the juror and must be informed of the juror before an agreement with the juror is formed.
The date for jurying should be set in accordance with installation timelines. The site of the jurying will be determined by SBMA staff and will take place within one or two days following the close of the previous show. Only the juror, a group representative assisting in the jurying process, and SBMA staff may be present during the jurying process. All handling of artwork will be the responsibility of the SBMA staff.
- Work previously shown in the South Bend Museum of Art is not eligible for exhibition.
- Work must have been completed within three (3) years prior to the date of the exhibition.
- All work must be framed, wired, and ready for display. Works on paper must be covered by glass or plexiglass. All hanging hardware must be appropriate to the size and weight of the work.
The SBMA reserves the right to refuse any work that does not meet the criteria.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
No fees for general submissions. For the regional Biennial and Around the Bend, there is usually a nominal entry fee to cover costs of portfolio administration by Submittable. Remember all submissions are now made through our Submittable page: southbendart.submittable.com/submit
Curatoral Staff reviews general submissions quarterly. We look at every submission, and will do our best to respond in a timely manner. It may take up to 6 months to receive any formal notification about your submission.
Yes! Stipend amounts are dependent upon the exhibition, the space, distance the work needs to travel, and other factors. Other assistance is provided to artists, curators, and groups on a case by case basis.
All general submissions and calls for entry use the Submittable platform: https://southbendart.submittable.com/submit
If you have any technical issues with Submittable, please feel free to contact Krista Hoefle, Senior Curator and Grants Writer: hoeflek@southbendart.org
